Did you know...

...maybe the Croats from Turopolje gave the world a tie (podgutnica) – a fashion detail?

What makes this whole place special is “podgutnica” (a tie) - red scarf that Turopolje girls tied around the neck of their boys before leaving for military service and it is considered a forerunner of the tie. Scarf tied à la Croate (the Croatian way) was recognized on our soldiers in the 17th century in Paris and according to Croats it was called tie. If you want to take a souvenir that will remind you of Turopolje region, “podgutnica”(tie) is a perfect souvenir.

...what is poculica?

To cover the heads of married women as a sign of their status is an old custom preserved till today. Immediately after the wedding young "sneja" (bride) had her plaits around "puntek" on her "zetiljak" (back of the head) and her hair was covered with cap, "poculica" – "halbica" in Turopolje and Posavina region, and above all "peča" (head scarf) was put. "Poculica" covered the whole hair; it was produced of homemade linen, bordered with broad homemade or purchased lace.

Podgutnica and poculica

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...that the saint Lucy is the patroness of Turopolje?

Why is St. Lucy the patroness of Turopolje was explained by renowned historian Emilij Laszowski in the book "The History of Turopolje" which stated that in the past the main assemblies of the Noble Commune of Turopolje were regularly held every year around St. George’s Day, and from the late 16th or early 17th century, on 13 December, ie. on the Feast of St. Lucy. Nowadays, on this day we celebrate the Day of the town of Velika Gorica. In the week preceding the feast of the town, numerous cultural events, called Lucy's days, are organised.

...how Turopolje got its name?

One of the more common opinions is that the name Tur field, ie Turopolje is derived from the Slavic word "tur" indicating longhorn, and it had the meaning of "fertiliser" and "sun god". The cattle became extinct in the 16th century. Because of its great importance in the life of the farmer "tur" has become a base to a number of toponyms. Turopolje, however, until the 16th century, was called Campus Zagrabiensis, ie. Zagreb field or just Campus (Field). It was only then that name was gradually replaced by the name Tur field, ie. Turopolje.

...there were witches in Lukavec long time ago?

When reading an interesting history of the old town Lukavec you can find information that at this particular place witch trials used to be held, and the proof of that is the witches’ prison located on the ground floor of the castle. The famous Croatian writer, Marija Juric Zagorka, located a great part of a novel Daughter of the Lotrščak in Turopolje, right in the old town Lukavec, where according to her words; witches were often arriving on visitations.

...what is turopoljski banderij?

From the obligations of the Noble Commune of Turopolje that the nobles had to answer the king’s call to military service, Turopolje troop (banderij) was created. It was an honorary choir of Turopolje nobles, who fought as an independent unit under its flag and under the command of Croatian Ban. Today Turopolje troop (banderij) is a solemn historical formation of the Croatian Army, participating in major town, regional and state events and happenings.

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...what “kojnača” (horse-drawn tram) is?

“Kojnača” was a tram which was horse-drawn, and from 1907 to 1937, it was carrying passengers and cargo in Velika Gorica. Tram line was eight kilometres long, stretching from Novo Čiče, a village southwest of Velika Gorica, through the centre of Velika Gorica to the railway station in Gradići. In addition to the station in Gradići and those in Novo Čiče, there were three more stations – next to the hospital, post office and barracks.

...that there is a link between Velika Gorica, Turopolje and August Šenoa, our big Croatian writer?

In the history of Turopolje, especially Velika Gorica, a special mark was left by Šenoa family. It is known that in youth August Šenoa was friends with many people of Turopolje, members of the Noble Commune of Turopolje, and it is in Velika Gorica where he met Slava Ištvanić, the noblewoman, whom he married and who was great inspiration and support in his literary work. He mentions Turopolje in his works Turopolje Gun, Young Gentleman and Diogenes and his son Milan worked with Emilij Laszowski on the book "The History of the Noble Commune of Turopolje" while another son Branko painted this area in his numerous canvases and prints.